More Families Become Entitled to Housing Benefit

A recent change in the regulations means that child benefit will be disregarded in calculating entitlement to housing benefit.  The change, which came into effect on 2 November is welcomed by Citizens Advice as it will help to tackle child poverty. 

More families with children will now be able to get help towards paying their rent, thanks to  the new rules. Citizens Advice is urging parents who receive child benefit, but who at present get no housing benefit, to check their entitlement again. For example, it has been worked out that a single parent with two children, who previously just missed out on getting any help towards paying the rent, could now be entitled to housing benefit of up to £21.58 a week.

The rule change also means some parents already receiving housing benefit will automatically see the amount they are entitled to go up, and more people will also become eligible for help in paying their rates bills. The extra money will be available to help all tenants with children, whether they live in council housing, housing association property, or private rented accommodation. Our Bureaux Managers and Advisers are seeing more and more families struggling to make ends meet and finding it increasingly hard to afford to pay their essential household bills, including their rent. This change in the rules could make a huge difference to them.